Marshfield: Selectmen begin process of adopting new state health insurance rules

Marshfield Selectmen voted Monday night to look into adopting new state health insurance rules.

However, the vote is causing some anxiety for some town employees.

The new municipal health insurance rules are designed to save money for both the town and employees and include a portion of the state’s G.I.C. or group insurance plan. Marshfield currently splits health insurance costs 50/50 between the town and employees. But under the new state rules, the more that workers use their insurance, the more they’d pay and vice versa. However, they’d also pay an additional deductible of $750.00 per year, per family.

A Marshfield D.P.W. worker shared his anxiety with Selectmen Chair John Hall, about the possibility of having to pay those deductibles. He said, “My wife has existing health problems and to have to pay a deductible on top of what I’m paying now, it’s ludicrous.”

Selectmen John Hall responded and said “That is very concerning to all of us too. If we’re going to create a hardship, I would not support this one bit. But, if there is a potential for savings…”

Although Selectmen unanimously voted to begin the process of adopting the state’s municipal health rules, they have not yet committed to the new policy.

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